GAME REPORT

Paris Levallois have returned from the dead on the road to record a famous 76-74 victory in the opening game of their EuroChallenge quarter-final play-off series against Pinar Karsiyaka.

In scenes barely believable to the partisan crowd, they watched as Pinar Karsiyaka gave up a William Thomas-inspired nine-point lead with less than five minutes to play as Paris came back to win the game on a pair of Antoine Diot free-throws with 14 seconds to play.

Following a tense opening three quarters in which neither team gave an inch, it appeared that Pinar Karsiyaka had made the decisive break in the opening minutes of the final frame as Thomas - who became a menace under the baskets following the early injury-forced departure of Sean May - contributed eight points on a 16-7 run, transforming a tied-ball game into a seemingly one-sided affair.

Thomas ended the night with a game-high 25 points.

However, the Parisians were not about to be counted out with Diot and John Cox lighting it up at the death, combining to score all 13 of their teams final points on a 13-2 run to give the visitors a near-unthinkable win.

Diot ended with nine points and Cox had 12 but perhaps the most impressive stat-line was that of youngster Louis Labeyrie who surpassed his season-best 13 points to end with 19 on 9-for-13 shooting from the field. Andew Albicy was also prominent with 14 points.

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COACH QUOTES

"Today our opponent did not win, actually we lost by ourself. We lost the game in the moment we had tought that we won. We made many simple mistakes that shouldn't be done by a team on the way to the final four. In the last 1,5 min we made five easy mistakes."

Paris head coach Christophe Denis"Congratulatins to my players not only for winning but also for not giving up. Tomorrow we have to get ready for the next game, l tried to explain to my players how tough the team is and the atmosphere is hard. We had an important victory tonight and sure we want to finish in Paris."

Karsiyaka center Bora Pacun"We lost an unlucky game tonight, but still have opportunities. We have power and we are strong enough."

Paris guard John Cox"We are happy to win here in a hard atmosphere against a very good team. But we have not finished yet."

COACH QUOTES

"Today our opponent did not win, actually we lost by ourself. We lost the game in the moment we had tought that we won. We made many simple mistakes that shouldn't be done by a team on the way to the final four. In the last 1,5 min we made five easy mistakes."

Paris head coach Christophe Denis"Congratulatins to my players not only for winning but also for not giving up. Tomorrow we have to get ready for the next game, l tried to explain to my players how tough the team is and the atmosphere is hard. We had an important victory tonight and sure we want to finish in Paris."

Karsiyaka center Bora Pacun"We lost an unlucky game tonight, but still have opportunities. We have power and we are strong enough."

Paris guard John Cox"We are happy to win here in a hard atmosphere against a very good team. But we have not finished yet."